Mental Health Matters
Dr Carl Leith van Heyningen, paediatric emergency medicine locum consultant and Children and Young person mental health champion at North Mid, talks about his passion for improving mental health.
Hi, I am Carl. I'm new to North Middlesex and I work in Children's A&E with my colleagues Katie and Charlotte. As children's doctors, we are seeing more and more kids suffering with their mental health. In 2024, the Global Mind Project revealed that out of the 71 countries it assessed, the United Kingdom, alongside South Africa, has the highest proportion of people in mental distress – and the second worst overall measure of mental health. Mental wellbeing has plummeted in the UK further than in any comparable nation. How is this not headline news?
Children in Enfield and Haringey are particularly vulnerable. The NHS is so stretched we are all leaning on charities more and more.
So how can we help at North Mid?
Well, some clever people (not me) have set up a brilliant website with all the available resources to help parents and young people who are struggling. Visit the website here.
What can you do? Spread the word!
What else? In my role as Children and Young People (CYP) mental health champion, we are bringing actors to train our staff in managing mental health emergencies. This alongside our excellent Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services team is bringing positive change.
Prevention, of course, is better than cure and this is why early help and signposting is so important. Hence how helpful the website is!
This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week. In our A&E department at North Mid, I am raising awareness about this very important issue. We have volunteers visiting and wellbeing initiatives for staff. We need to look after ourselves to look after others.
So, in three words...mental health matters
Stay kind and look after yourselves.